PUBLIC NOTICE
OF
DRAFT PERMIT, PUBLIC MEETING, AND PUBLIC HEARING
Date: May 19, 2026
Permit No.: MI0060278
Designated Site Name: Enbridge Energy-Line 5-Straits of Mackinac
The Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (Department), Water Resources Division (WRD), proposes to reissue a permit to Enbridge Energy, Limited Partnership for two facilities located on Lake Michigan: Mackinaw Station (south), 16309 Headlands Road, Mackinaw City, Emmet County, Michigan 49701 and North Straits (north), Boulevard Drive, St. Ignace, Mackinaw County, Michigan 49781. The applicant proposes to discharge treated noncontact cooling water, tunnel/portal construction water, tunnel boring machine air intervention water, slurry treatment facility wastewater, tunnel drainage, groundwater seepage, hydrostatic pressure test water, and an unspecified amount of stormwater to Lake Michigan.
A virtual public meeting and public hearing with the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, WRD, will be held to seek public input on the proposed reissuance of the permit. During the public meeting, the WRD will briefly explain the proposed permit and answer questions. Following the public meeting, the public will have an opportunity to provide comments on the proposed permit during the public hearing. This public meeting and public hearing will be held on June 18, 2026 at, 6 pm EST.
To attend the online public meeting and public hearing register at https://bit.ly/WRD061826. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. If you do not have internet access and would like to join by PHONE ONLY please use the following phone number: 855-758-1310 and conference code 871 0459 5761#. Pre-registration is not required to attend. Individuals interested in participating can click the link above at the start of the event (6 pm EST).
The draft permit includes the following modifications to the previously issued permit: The following new conditions have been added to the draft permit: Final Effluent Limitations- Monitoring Point 003B, Intake Structure Monitoring, Cooling Water Intake Structures, Liner Requirements, Notifications of Operational Status (previously named Engineering Review), and Submittal of Self-Monitoring Data. The following conditions have been removed from the draft permit: Final Effluent Limitations – Monitoring Point 001B, Final Effluent Limitations – Monitoring Point 003A (post construction), Intake Screen Backwash – Outfall 001. Permit language has been revised to incorporate updated references and terminology. Other changes for specific monitoring points are as follows:
Monitoring Point 001A (during construction): Final effluent limitations and monitoring for Total Residual Chlorine, Whole Effluent Toxicity, Total Phosphorus, Hydrogen Peroxide and Dissolved Oxygen have been added. Monitoring requirements have been added for Sulfate. The monitoring frequency for Total Suspended Solids and pH has been increased to daily. Monthly average reporting for Total Dissolved Solids and Chloride has been removed as it is duplicative.
Monitoring Point 001A (post-construction): Final effluent monitoring for Sulfate has been added. Monthly reporting for Total Suspended Solids, Total Dissolved Solids, and Chloride has been removed. The post-construction discharge from Monitoring Point 003A has been moved to Monitoring Point 001A. The authorized flow rate has been increased to 0.0765 MGD.
Monitoring Point 003A (during construction): Final effluent limitations and monitoring for Total Residual Chlorine, Whole Effluent Toxicity, Total Phosphorus, Hydrogen Peroxide and Dissolved Oxygen have been added. Monitoring requirements have been added for Sulfate. The monitoring frequency for Total Suspended Solids and pH has been increased to daily. Monthly average reporting for Total Dissolved Solids and Chloride has been removed.
Monitoring Point 003B: The hydrostatic pressure test water discharge has been moved from Monitoring Point 001B to Monitoring Point 003B.
Intake Structure Monitoring: Monitoring for Intake Flow and Intake Observation (weekly and semi-annually) has been added.
Copies of the permit application, Public Notice, Fact Sheet, Basis for Decision Memo, draft permit, and other relevant documents associated with this proposed permitting action may be obtained via the Internet at https://mienviro.michigan.gov/ncore/ (select 'Public Notice Search,' enter the permit number into the search field, and then click 'Search'), or at the WRD's Gaylord District Office located at 2100 West M-32, Gaylord, MI 49735-9282, telephone: 989-731-4920.
Persons wishing to submit comments on the draft permit should do so through MiEnviro Portal. Go to https://mienviro.michigan.gov/ncore/, select 'Public Notice Search,' search for this public notice by entering the permit number into the search field, click 'Search,' click 'View,' click 'Add Comment,' enter information into the fields, and then click 'Submit.' Comments may also be provided during the public hearing. Comments or objections to the draft permit received by
June 30, 2026, will be considered in the final decision to issue the permit, as will comments made during the public hearing. Inquiries should be directed to Hannah Schroeder-Larkins, Permits Section, WRD, Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, P.O. Box 30458, Lansing, Michigan 48909-7958; telephone: 517-245-2090; or e-mail: SchroederLarkinsH@michigan.gov.
Individuals needing language assistance or accommodations for effective participation at the meeting or hearing should contact Joshua Allison at AllisonJ6@michigan.gov or 517-243-7260 by June 4, 2026 to request language, mobility, visual, hearing, translation, and/or other assistance.
May 20 2026
LPET0520875